Oshiomhole’s Preferred Candidate Loses as Sen. Okpepholo Clinches APC Ticket

Monday Okpepholo, the Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, has emerged as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the upcoming September 21, 2024 governorship race in Edo State.

The National Working Committee of the ruling party had scheduled a fresh primary election after the previous exercise led to a three-way split, producing multiple candidates.

In one of the parallel primaries, Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, declared Hon. Denis Idahosa, representing Ovia Federal Constituency, as the winner with a total of 40,453 votes.

Idahosa was widely believed to be the preferred candidate of Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the leader of the APC in Edo State.

However, in another parallel congress, the returning officer for the election, Dr. Stanley Ugboaje, declared Okpepholo the winner with a score of 12,145 votes.

In a third parallel primary, Local Government Returning Officer, Mr. Ojo Babatunde, declared that the winner was Hon. Dekeri Anamero, representing Etsako Federal Constituency, with a total of 25,384 votes.

The final decision on the APC candidate was announced by Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, who chaired the election committee.

He declared that Okpepholo had secured the highest number of votes with a total of 12,433 votes, defeating his closest rival, Idahosa, who scored 6,541 votes.

“Having scored the total number of highest votes cast, I hereby declare Monday Okpepholo as the winner and APC candidate for the election,” stated Senator Otu.

With this victory, Okpepholo will face off against Asue Ighodahlo of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Edo guber election scheduled for September 21, 2024.